War vets hold Defence Minister Thandi Modise hostage

There was commotion at the venue where a meeting between liberation struggle war veterans and Defence Minister Thandi Modise was underway on Thursday evening.

The war veterans, who are protesting against the government’s failure to pay them reparations, were meeting Modise at the St George Hotel in Johannesburg.

According to sources at the hotel, the war vets blocked the exit of the meeting venue after accusing Modise of not adequately addressing their grievances.

“The minister can’t get out, they have blocked the exit. It’s a lot of them,” the source said.

When The Witness called one of the leaders of the war vets group, he confirmed that Modise was currently unable to exit the hotel.

“We won’t allow them to leave.

“They are not taking us seriously,” the war vet said.

Screams from the war vets could be heard in the background during the telephone conversation.

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Defence and Military Veterans spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini, said he was not at the hotel.

“I will check and come back to you,” he said.

Modise was accompanied by her deputy, Thabang Makwetla to the meeting.

The war vets, most of whom are from Pietermaritzburg are demanding a R2,2 million reparation of each member who participated in the liberation struggle.